The boss of Peloton has apologised after previously describing a warning about the equipment as “inaccurate and misleading”
Exercise equipment company Peloton is recalling its Tread and Tread+ interactive treadmill machines in the United States after a number of injuries have occurred, as well as the death of a child.
It comes after regulators had warned people back in April to stop using the Tread+ product if they have either children or pets.
The Peloton chief executive John Foley has now come out to apologise for the company’s initial response to requests from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that said that it should recall the Tread+.
Peloton had initially said that the CPSC’s warning was both “inaccurate and misleading”, arguing there was no reason that children above the age of 16 should have to stop using the product.
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The regulator has said that the recall came following the death of a six-year-old child who had been pulled underneath the rear end of a Tread+ treadmill.
There have also been 72 further reports of adults, children and pets being left with injuries, which include broken bones, cuts, and bruises.
The CPSC has said to consumers who have bought either of the treadmills, that they should stop using it immediately, and should contact Peloton to request a full refund or other redress.
Peloton has stopped selling the Tread+ and is reportedly working on hardware fixes, according to the regulator said.
The model had been sold online and at Peloton showrooms from September 2018 until last month for the price of $4,295.
Peloton’s UK website currently advertises the Peloton Tread as costing from £2,295 or £59 per month. The website page also carries a link to the US recall notice.
In the US, the Tread model had only been sold as a limited release from November of 2020 to March of 2021. Owners of that model will now be offered a repair within the coming weeks.
Mr Foley, the Peloton boss, said recalling the products was “the right thing to do”.
But he added: “I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s request that we recall the Tread+.
“We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologise.”
CPSC acting chairman Robert Adler said: “The agreement between CPSC and Peloton is the result of weeks of intense negotiation and effort, culminating in a cooperative agreement that I believe serves the best interests of Peloton and of consumers.”
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Peloton is best known for its exercise bike and live fitness class subscription service.
Demand has soared during the pandemic, with the company reporting sales of $1.06bn over the last three months of 2020, more than double the level of the same period a year earlier, and a profit of $64m.
The recall comes a day before Peloton is due to publish its latest quarterly update.
According to Peloton’s most recent annual report, the Tread was due to be available for sale in the UK from last December while the Tread+ was only available in the US.
